October 21, 2011

In a burst of festivity, I decided we should have some Halloween decorations in the house. Something 1) dramatic, 2) super cheap, and 3) didn't require me to go to the store. Behold: trash bag spiderwebs.

To make these, lay a trash bag out flat. Trim off the side and bottom seams so you're left with two big rectangles of plastic. Cut each piece into an approximate square (eyeballing it is fine.) Each square will make one spider web.

Fold one of the squares in half diagonally to form a triangle. Fold that triangle in half two more times to narrow it. This is slippery stuff, so use a few pieces of tape to fasten the layers together where the loose folded edges come together. It will help hold the shape together when you're cutting. (If any of the tape turns out to be on the web itself after you've cut it out, remove the pieces before unfolding or the web won't be able to open up.)

Use a black Sharpie to sketch some guides on the plastic: draw a "stem" from the folded point out to the end of your triangle. Then sketch some scallops that come off the stem, like in the diagram below. With a scissors, cut out the negative shapes and unfold your web. Tape several webs together and add extra strips of plastic to connect them if you like.

Mine came out looking like a naughty black negligee. My husband asked if I could wear it. Obviously I'm a spatially challenged and couldn't figure out which sides to cut/not cut. Cute idea, but I'm a DIY newb.

I LOVE this idea!! I'm having a toddler (and parent) pumpkin carving party Saturday afternoon, and I was trying to think of some low-cost high-impact decorations for the backyard. This will be perfect for along the fence. Thank you!

Liz, I just taped the ends of the web to the painted window frame with clear tape. It's semi-gloss paint, so the tape peels off easily. The other ends of the web seem to adhere to the mustard-colored paint pretty well with just static cling. I helped it out in a couple places with some scotch tape stuck down lightly. The walls have flat paint, so they're not quite so peelable.

I loved this idea since I saw , so I finally decided to try it last weekend (last minute, I know!!!).I posted mine in my blog, but send everybody here to check yours, they look much more better than mines! Thanks!!

This is way too cute! We featured this awesome trash bag craft on our Top 13 Eco-Friendly Halloween crafts round-up! http://familysponge.com/create/holiday-craft-ideas-create/top-13-recycled-halloween-crafts/

I'm sitting on the terrass and just cut open one trash bag...just to try. Then thought to google how to make a spiders web and ended up here. This is great!! I guess I have to use my cut bag for something else cause this idea is way better. Thanks!

By the third one, I think I have the hang of it! The key I found is to make the web pieces (the parts that stay attached) fairly thin (the one I like are about 3/4 inch wide, maybe a little less in some places. Also, the one I didn't draw out before I cut came out square, so something wasn't lined up right (so seriously, use your Sharpie!). These are so cute, I can't wait to put them up :)

My first two attempts at this went horribly wrong. Then I had my totally non-crafty husband give it a try, and out came a perfect web. In case this helps others who were thinking the way I was, here's where I went wrong:

Where the instructions say, "the open side, temporarily secured with tape". My interpretation of the "open side" was the "cut" side...it was totally open. This results in a hot mess. Instead, the "open side" is only open where the folded halves come together! The "cut" side is on the top!!!! Totally folded together is on the right. God Bless....I normally consider myself somewhat crafty but this one got the best of me! Determination (and sweet husband) prevailed. Turned out cute, FINALLY!! Thanks for the great idea!

Great idea but what do you mean by 'eyeballing it'?Would you be able to put more images up of the process of making it. I'd really love to give it a go but I don't quite understand. Very inventive though you have a great creative eye :-)

While the idea was good, I'll admit that eyeballing it didn't not work out well for me. It makes it harder to cut if your triangles aren't aligned symmetrically. I am quite artsy and it didn't work for me... they just kept breaking apart. Might need some new/tough trash bags or some sharper scissors though! Thanks for the idea.

I amazed myself cuz I sure couldn't cut straight for nothing hahaha foorreeal,, sooo cool and so different no cobwebs this year,, since all my neighbors got their white fuzz blowing all over neighborhood,, I like to be different they always try to kinda do what we do to the front yard,, NOT THIS YEAR THANKSSS

I made several individual spider webs and then taped them together. Sometimes I cut an extra strip of trash bag to use as a connector. I used black trash bags. I guess they're kitchen bags? I'm not sure what a contractor bag is.